Activists in Amsterdam have taken direct action against Microsoft’s plans to build a new data centre in the city. The protest comes amid growing concerns over the environmental impact of the tech giant’s infrastructure projects, particularly as the AI boom drives demand for such facilities.
The protesters stormed the site of the proposed data centre, arguing that it will deplete local energy and water resources. Their actions highlight a broader tension between technological advancement and sustainability, as data centres require significant power and cooling systems.
Microsoft has not yet publicly responded to the protests. The company’s plans for the data centre are part of a larger trend of expanding data infrastructure to support the increasing computational needs of AI and cloud services.